Shaft coupling



M@ 3, 1942.- vF. H, BEHL 2,215,004

v v SHAFT COUPLING original Filed oct. 22, i940 A I INVENToR. TEF-5 w AM.-H,

- v BY Patented 'Mm 3, 1942 2,275,004 smr'r ooUPLnsG Fred n. nem, Musa, Minn.

Original application October 22, 1940, Serial No.

1941, Serial No. 387,303

s claims. (o1. s4- 29) R This invention relates to an improved shaft coupling and the present application constitutes `a division of mypending application Ser. No.

382,294, filed October 22, 1940.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved coupling for connecting a drive shaft with a driven shaft and allow slippage under ex- .cessive strain. It will thus be seen that elements which are operatively associated with the drive shaft or the driven shaft will not be broken by excessive strain.

Another object of they invention is to provide a coupling wherein clutch members are enclosed in a housing or casing adapted for engagement with shafts, one clutch member vbeing urged'toward the other so that normally rotary motion will be transmitted through the coupling from a drive shaft to a driven shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide the clutch casing with companion sections having threaded engagement with eachother so that by turning one casing section it may be adjusted longitudinally of the other and a spring in the casing placed under desired tension and clutching engagement' of the clutch members controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide the adjustable casing section with a member which may be used as a lever for turning this casing section and also as a latch for holding it in adjusted position.

Divided and this application April 7,

as a cup-shaped body or casing proper 4 and a cap for the casing. The wall of the -cap has an extension which projects outwardly from the peripheral edge of its head 6 and carries a latch or keeper 1 which is pivotally mounted by a rolled end 8 loosely engaged through an opening 9. The keeper-strip 1 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot I9 to accommodate the lugs Il and l2 which project laterally from the annular wall of the cap 5 and fromfthe annular wall of the casing 4 respectively, and it will be readily understood that when the keeper is in the operative position shown in the drawing, the

cap will be prevented from 'turning about the casing. When the pin or equivalent fastener I5 is removed, the latch or keeper may be swung outwardly to inoperative position, in which it projects radially from the cap and may be used as a lever for turning the cap about the casing, and since the cap has threaded engagement with the casing, turning of the cap will shift it along the casing in accordance with the direction in which the cap is turned. After the cap has been shifted to the desired position, the keeper will be Another object of the invention is to provide a l coupling which is simple in construction, strong and durable, and not liable to break or get out of order.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the improved clutch.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the clutch on the line l-i of Fig. 42.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken transversely through the clutch on. the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig 5 is a view of one of the clutch members.

Pig. 6 is a view of the companion clutch member with a portion in section.

This improvedcoupling is employed for 'connecting a drive shaft i with a driven shaft 2, it being understood that the shaft I may be rotated from any suitable source of power and thatthe shaft 2 may serve as a drive shaft for machinery of any nature, orthe two shafts may constitute sections of a line shaft.

This coupling has a casing', indicated in general by the numeral l, and constituting companion sections 4 and 5 which may be referred to returned to its initial position in which-the lugs pass through the slot I0 and the pin then replaced to retain the keeper in the operative position.

A short tubular neck I4 extends inwardly from the head 6 about an opening formed centrally therein and this neck is alined with a tubular shank Il projecting outwardly from the head of the casing axially thereof about an opening formed centrally thereof. The neck i4 is, however, of greater diameter than the shank. Internally, the shank is formed with longitudinally extending ribs I8 and the drive shaft I is formed vdiameter that it may have limited tilting movement inthe neck. Internal ribs 2| are formed in the shank Ilv longitudinally thereof for en-` gagement with the ribs 22 of the driven lshaft 2 to cause the shaft to turn with the clutch member. The companion clutch member 23 is formed wtih a neck 24 which passes through an opening atv the center of the clutch member 20 and terminates in a spherical head 25 which is received in the forward portion of the tubular shank I9. 'This is clearly shown in Fig. 3, and referring to this ligure, it will be seen that the clutch member 20 is yieldably held in gripping engagement with the clutch member 23 by a spring 28 housed in the casing with its rear portion disposed about the neck I4 of the cap. By adjusting the cap on the casing, tension'of the spring may be controlled andthe ease with which slippage may take place between the clutch members controlled. The shank 21 of the clutch member 23 is formed with longitudinally extending ribs which engage the ribs formed in the neck or shank i of the casing and this causes the clutch member 23 to turn with the casing. UnderI normal conditions, the teeth of the two clutch members remain in engagement with each other so that rotarymotion will be transmitted to the driven shaft but, if excessive strain develops for any reason, the teeth of the coupler member 23 will slide over the teeth of the coupler member and the drive shaft may continue rotating without rotary motionvbeing transmittedvto the driven shaft. In view of the fact that the shank 24 of the clutch member 23 is formed with a spherical head 25 which is snugly received in the tubular shank of the clutch member 2i), the shank I9 may have limited tilting movement inthe neck I4 of the cap and the coupling serve as a universal coupling for the two shafts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: y g

1. A coupling for connecting a driven shaft with a drive shaft, said coupling comprising a casing having a tubular shank extending therey from and adapted for connection with the drive tending therefrom through the center opening oi' the movable clutch member into the tubular shank thereof and terminating in a spherical head engaging walls of the tubular shank and permitting universal tilting of the movable clutch member, and a spring in the casing coiled about the neck and the shank of the movable clutch member with one end bearing against the head of the cap and its other end bearing against the movable clutch member and urging the movable clutch member toward the stationary clutch member.

2. A coupling for connecting a drive shaft with -a driven shaft comprising a casing having one 3. A coupling for connecting a driven shaft with a drive shaft, said coupling comprising a casing having a shank extending therefrom and adapted for connection with the drive shaft, al

stationary clutch member in the casing, a cap for` said casing in threaded engagement therewith, said cap having a center opening surrounded by an inwardly extending tubular neck, a movable clutch member in the casing having a shank extending therefrom through the neck and the opening of the cap and adapted for connectlon with the driven shaft, the movable clutch member being connected with the stationary clutch member for universal tilting movement, a spring in the casing coiled about the shank of the movable clutch member with one end bearing against the cap and its other end bearing against the movable clutch member and urging the same toward the stationary clutch member, the cap when turned in a tightening direction applying predetermined tension to the spring, and means for releasably holding the -cap in set position. FRED H. BEI-IL. 

